[nabs-l] Over Night College Visit

[Mark J. Cadigan]

Hi,



Perhaps you should ask your question on the National Association of Guide 
Dog Users (NAGDU) list serve. All the people on the NAGDU list are 
themselves guide dog handlers, and have first hand experience to draw from 
when giving advice.



Me personally, I am a guide dog handler, and current college student. I 
would definitely take my dog with me on the college visit, and in fact I 
have gone on college visits with my guide dog in the past. What people say 
about informing the college that you have a guide dog and requesting 
accommodations for printed materials is good advice. I would definitely do 
so, not only to make your life easier while on the college visit, but to get 
an idea of the school's willingness to work with you when you are a student.



My theory about people not liking my guide dog is that it is there problem 
and not mine. I have the legal right to be accompanied by my guide dog, and 
if someone is offended for whatever reason to bad for them. That being said, 
you have to be polite to the people who are offended, however you should 
stand your ground, and never back down on your rights.



The people who think it is a simple decision to leave your dog with someone 
while on the college visit, are clearly not dog handlers, and have no clue 
what they are talking about. That being said, when you have your dog on the 
college visit, it is your responsibility to be firm with the dog, and not 
let it test you. People may object to you correcting your dog, but they are 
just ignorant, and do your best to politely ignore them.



Feel free to email me off list



Mark



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "lizzy" <lizzym0827 at gmail.com>
To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2013 10:44 AM
Subject: [nabs-l] Over Night College Visit


> Hi All,
> I usually just read the outstanding advice given on this list, but now I 
> am in need of some help.  I am currently a senior in high school going not 
> for my first college visit, but to my first over night visit and it is at 
> my number one choice school.  To all of the guide dog users, I've had my 
> lab for about three and a half months now but I'm still undecided about if 
> it would be fair and easier to take her with me on this trip.  My reasons 
> are that I don't know the campus and so she would probably be doing a lot 
> of following (which I know everyone has their own opinions about).  I've 
> taught her things using the cane but it has usually been pretty simple (a 
> specific doorway, bus stop etc) so I'm not sure if it'll work for this or 
> not (since I'll be all over campus).  Also, her behavior is slightly 
> unpredictable (typically she is very excited around new people and she is 
> very sniffy in new places which interferes with her work and doesn't make 
> her look like a trained dog).  I will be sitting in on a class, doing an 
> interview, meeting with the department chair and rooming with a current 
> student and I'm afraid she might offend someone who doesn't like dogs or 
> vice versa someone may see me give a correction and be upset by it.  I 
> haven't requested any accommodations because I don't really think I'll 
> need any since I'll be there for less than twenty-four hours.  But is 
> there anything I'm forgetting? Should I tell them ahead of time about the 
> dog (if I decide to take her)? Any tips you all could give would be 
> greatly appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Lizzy
>
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